predicament of being alive

Photo by Thomas Elliott on Unsplash

predicament of being alive

it isn’t easy on planet earth
setbacks carve us
staggering low-back pain
or your family business fails
a parent’s sudden demise
empty craters of loss

a swallowtail flickers by
or the mockingbird’s serenade
a dog’s cold nose in greeting
jasmine in the air
enough joy to keep us here 
just

how to welcome paradox
are we vast enough?
open? willing?
can our hearts spread wide?
we're asked for the courage 
to breathe it all